BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Elmhurst football team overcame an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Illinois Wesleyan University 29-28 and score its fourth consecutive victory in the process.

Joe Camiliere passed for a touchdown and ran for another in the final seven minutes of the contest to lead the Bluejays to the victory. Jake Pawlicki picked off an Illinois Wesleyan pass in the final minute to seal the victory for the Bluejays.
 

The victory was the Bluejays' first win on Illinois Wesleyan's home field since the 1985 season. Elmhurst improved to 5-2 overall and remained unbeaten in the CCIW at 4-0. Illinois Wesleyan slipped to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in league play with the loss.
 
Trailing by 28-17 with 11:41 left to play in the contest, Elmhurst's offense went to work after a kickoff. Camiliere capped a nine-play scoring drive by finding Kaylon Miller open over the middle. Miller turned on some speed and weaved through Titan defenders en route to the end zone on a 42-yard touchdown reception. Elmhurst went for the two-point conversion, but Camiliere's pass was knocked down to keep the Titans up 28-23.
 
Elmhurst's defense turned in a strong series on the ensuing Illinois Wesleyan possession. Elmhurst forced the Titans into a three-and-out after stopping an option pitch on a third-and-three play.
 
Elmhurst took over at their own 20-yard with just over five minutes left to play after a 73-yard punt from Matt Kussmann. Facing a third-and-one from their own-29 yard line, Camiliere and Garrett Claxon delivered the key play of the drive. Camiliere hit Claxon for the first down and Claxon sliced through several defenders, turning a short gain into a 47-yard completion down to the Titans' 24-yard yard line. Josh Williams carried for 14-yards to the Titans' 10-yard line on the next play. On a second-and-goal from the Titans' seven-yard line, Camiliere faked a handoff and raced into the end zone to give Elmhurst a 29-28 advantage. The Bluejays' two-point conversion attempt came up short, keeping Elmhurst's lead at just one point.
 

Illinois Wesleyan took over at its own 27-yard line with just 1:25 left to play in the contest. After a six-yard run and an incomplete pass, Pawlicki picked off a third-down pass from Titan QB Mac Zabriskie to preserve Elmhurst's fourth straight victory.
 
The Bluejays found themselves in a 14-10 hole after the game's first 30-minutes. Illinois Wesleyan scored on the game's opening possession as Zabriskie hit Artie Checchin for a 60-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the contest.
 
Elmhurst answered back immediately, driving 75-yards in 10 plays with Camiliere capping the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Miller. 
 
The Bluejays grabbed a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter, driving 55 yards to the Illinois Wesleyan five-yard line and settling for a 22-yard field goal from Brett Bayer.
 
Elmhurst's lead lasted into the second quarter before the Titans used a turnover to put points on the scoreboard. Illinois Wesleyan recovered an Elmhurst fumble at the Bluejays' 19-yard line. Three plays later, Zabriskie scored on a seven-yard run to put the Titans on top 14-10.
 
Elmhurst had a chance to take or cut into the Titans' lead near the end of the first half. The Bluejays drove down to the Titan's six-yard line. After advancing three yards on three plays, the Bluejays went for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal but Connor Klein knocked down Camiliere's pass at the line of scrimmage.
 
Elmhurst surged in front early in the third quarter, taking the opening kickoff and driving 84 yards in 18 plays, eating up 10 minutes of clock in the process. The Bluejays converted on a pair of fourth-down conversions to keep the drive alive. Williams capped the scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge to put the Bluejays up 17-14.
 
The Titans responded with a 79-yard scoring drive to go back in front. Zabriskie hit Checchin for a nine-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive and give the Titans a 21-17 lead.
 

The Bluejays fumbled the ensuing kickoff with the Titans recovering the loose ball at the Elmhurst 28-yard line. The Titans drove to the one-yard line and faced a fourth-and-goal. Zabriskie kept the ball on a quarterback sneak and found the end zone to give the Titans a 28-17 lead early in the fourth quarter setting up Elmhurst's rally.
 
Elmhurst totaled 25 first downs and 420 yards of offense. The Bluejays rushed for 196 yards and passed for 224. Illinois Wesleyan was held to 260 yards of offense with 153 coming on the ground and 107 through the air.  The Bluejays continued to dominate in time of possession, holding the ball for over 39 minutes on offense.
 
Williams paced Elmhurst's ground attack, carrying 23 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. Camiliere totaled over 300 yards on the day, rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and passing for 224 yards and two scores while completing 18-of-29 pass attempts. Miller was the Bluejays' top receiver, hauling in five passes for a team-leading 84 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Zabriske paced the Titans' attack by rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for two more. He ran for 32 yards on 10 carries and passed for 107 yards on 7-of-13 attempts. Anfernee Roberts led the Titans on the ground with 116 yards on 18 carries. Checchin caught three passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Valdez Honorable and Jake Garabedian totaled eight tackles apiece to lead Elmhurst's defense.  Sean Garvey totaled a game-high 18 tackles for the Titans.
 
Elmhurst hosts Wheaton College next Saturday, November 1, at 1:00 p.m.